How about this idea to achieve an amicable end to the fcuking format war?

All CE Manufacturers will release Dual Format players from now. All studios will go neutral. BDA and HD DVD PRG reach a truce whereby they will share revenues, with the HD DVD format being aimed at the masses and the J6P crowd, and BD to become the "Criterion of the HD Optical" generation? BD versions could be the super duper high bitrate/bandwidth special editions of movies that the truly masochistically anal-retentive AV perfectionists can splurge over to gloat over freeze-framed pixel perfection?

Yeah, pigs may fly before that happens, but wouldn't that be the HD Optical Utopia? Yay or Nay?

NOTE: This is a public poll, people. So, watch the trigger fingers !!

...truly masochistically anal-retentive AV perfectionists can splurge over to gloat over freeze-framed pixel perfection

now that sounds like heaven to me! :D I say Yay. :)

I say go for it :)

I'll back this utopic point of view.

I think it's impossible, and wouldn't lead to mass adoption even if tried, but it it were possible (with mass adoption somehow garaunteed) I'd whole-heartedly support it!

I think it's impossible, and wouldn't lead to mass adoption even if tried, but it it were possible (with mass adoption somehow garaunteed) I'd whole-heartedly support it!

Why do you think it wouldn't lead to mass-adoption? Just curious.

The real test would be when your favorite movies even gets released would it not.

Now, I admit that each time I tick one off my list of movies, it's a great feeling, but there's still a lot of big ones that has no plans, let alone street date. :(

Assuming that Criterion refers to superior (percieved or real) quality, why are you not suggesting the other way around? We have no evidence of any quality superiority so far either way.

Why do you think it wouldn't lead to mass-adoption? Just curious.

I reread your scenario, and it might work. You probably could erase the perception of two formats this way. In this fantasy all future PS3s get dual-format support I presume?

Criterium because it costs more I'm guessing?? Certainly not because of their non-superiority

I reread your scenario, and it might work. You probably could erase the perception of two formats this way. In this fantasy all future PS3s get dual-format support I presume?

Yeah.. the PS3 could strap on a HD DVD drive, just like the Xbox360 could sport a BD strap-on, just so that the console crowd could swing both ways.

Ah, where's the end to the fantasies !!

Sure, actually haven't they developed a single-chip solution for DF players now? Maybe utopia isn't that far away.

My only reservation is that I'd love to see Criterion on HD DVD.

So, essentially, all players are dual format, all studios release on HD DVD, and BD is used by everyone for the "superbit" treatment?

Sure, I'd get behind that idea.

I'd love to hear the reasoning of those voting in the negative. Come on, just say it out loud. I won't bite ya !!

So, essentially, all players are dual format, all studios release on HD DVD, and BD is used by everyone for the "superbit" treatment?

Sure, I'd get behind that idea.

I see that at an approach that really addresses a lot of HDM marketing and production problems... It would allow BD media prices to drift up to match production costs, and let HD DVD to come down reflecting its production to increase market adoption. It would also give Sony a face saving way out.. So I vote for Dual format, where HD DVD is mainstream and BD is retargeted at the High Definition "superbit" market.

I think this is what is going to happen with or without DF players. But DF players are coming.

With players costing $900 -1000, no time soon !

How about this idea to achieve an amicable end to the fcuking format war?

All CE Manufacturers will release Dual Format players from now. All studios will go neutral. BDA and HD DVD PRG reach a truce whereby they will share revenues, with the HD DVD format being aimed at the masses and the J6P crowd, and BD to become the "Criterion of the HD Optical" generation? BD versions could be the super duper high bitrate/bandwidth special editions of movies that the truly masochistically anal-retentive AV perfectionists can splurge over to gloat over freeze-framed pixel perfection?

Yeah, pigs may fly before that happens, but wouldn't that be the HD Optical Utopia? Yay or Nay?

NOTE: This is a public poll, people. So, watch the trigger fingers !!

Screw that! Let 'em fight to the death. :D

Besides there's no way that Msoft would lose to Sony. :D

I reread your scenario, and it might work. You probably could erase the perception of two formats this way. In this fantasy all future PS3s get dual-format support I presume?

The only thing that would stand in the way of that is SONY, if you sign on to a Trojan-horse format, it's not the rest of the industry's obligation to choose one or the other when DF players would provide access to the whole spectrum of HDM, just because the manufacturer of your game console "bet the ranch" on it standing alone.

Let's say hypothetically one camp calls it quits next week and think about what that would mean for adoption of high-def optical media for movie distribution. I think this is what would happen if that were to happen.

Blu-ray Win

Toshiba and MS throws in the towel and all the HD DVD exclusives drop the format and go with Blu-ray.

Demand for HD DVD players go to next to nothing and Blu-ray player sales pickup. However with player prices being 5 to 10 times SD DVD players, adoption by general public is slow and never reach main stream status. In addition, with cost estimate of $1.5-3 billion dollars to build enough Blu-ray lines to replace DVDs, Blu-ray just cannot overcome this chicken vs. egg scenario (enough players to justify building lines vs. vice versa). Furthermore with cost and yield differential between BD-25 and BD-50, more and more Blu-ray movies are released in BD-25, albeit with advanced codecs to minimize disc space. Blu-ray becomes a semi-successful niche product akin to LDs in VHS era.

HD DVD Win

Sony and BDA throws in the towel and all Blu-ray exclusives migrate to publishing in HD DVD (even Sony and Fox)

Studios see profits in combos and start releasing big new releases in combo format only without SD DVD counterpart. There is some outcry among the non-high def public about additional cost over SD DVD, but most folks see $3-5 additional cost as being fair trade-off for getting HD DVD side even if they don't own HD DVD players. Demand for HD DVD picks up steam due to commonplace availability of HD DVD combos, and relative affordability of HD DVD players (2-3 times the cost of SD DVD players). HD DVD achieves main stream status in 5 years and almost all DVD players sold have HD DVD capabilities. Blu-ray format is resurrected from dead by "Criterion" like publisher and esoteric CE companies who start making $1000 to $2000 players that have Blu-ray capabilities in addition to HD DVD capabilities (combi player). HD DVD becomes the next DVD (with most of the general public not caring since the cost of HD DVD is now same as DVD) and Blu-ray becomes the favorite niche videophile format akin to SACD.

That's essentially what I said in above scenario where HD DVD wins the format war. I think there will always be a small minority of videophiles who would pay +$1000 for a player and $50 per movie to get "best" PQ and AQ regardless of whether the difference is perceptible or not.

Hypothetical Blu-ray win vs. HD DVD win thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=901198)

They will coexist - that's why dual-format players are so important next year. But it doesn't help the BD issues...

They will coexist - that's why dual-format players are so important next year. But it doesn't help the BD issues...

Here's a question Does the PS3 have the horsepower and tech to play HD DVD's?

It is always nice to have an other choice:(

I believe that a coexistence scenario with DF players will play out, but I don't think it will be along lines described in the poll. It is more likely that both BD and HD DVD will be premier edition for different studios and DVD will remain the mass medium for at least the next 5 years. The studios would love to have this tiered model to maximize revenue with multiple price points -- pricing 101.

It's about to become a three-some, too :) VMD looks like it might a player this holiday season. :eek:

I'd love to hear the reasoning of those voting in the negative. Come on, just say it out loud. I won't bite ya !!

I prefer to let the marketplace drive the process. EDIT - even if its messy/flawed in the short term.

It's about to become a three-some, too :) VMD looks like it might a player this holiday season. :eek:

An HD Ménage à trois. Sign me up:D

Where the idea sounds good I voted against it. Reason is I spent so much money on Criterion LD's I donot want to go down that road again. Where I am paying a min of $60 for any movie and many at or over the $100 mark. I know I could choose the lower end one since I am dual already but I know myself too well and would want the better version. Not to mention explaining it to the wife why I need to buy the more expensive movie.